Automatic hay-press feeder.



PATENTED JAN. 10, 1905.

E. J. RICHMOND. AUTOMATIC HAY PRESS FEEDER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 30, 1904.

UNITED STATES Patented January 10, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

EDIVARD JAMES RICHMOND, OF'LAMAR, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TOWVILLIAM G. WARNER AND THOMAS H. OOMBS, OF LAMAR,

MlSSOURI.

AUTOMATIC HAY-PRESS FEEDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 779,736, dated January10, 1905.

Application filed April 30, 1904. Serial No. 205,790.

To (all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD JAMES RICH- MOND, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Lamar, in the county of Barton and State ofMissouri, have invented a new and useful Automatic Hay-Press Feeder, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to balingpresses, more particularly to pressesemployed for baling hay and similar products or material, and has forits object to produce a simply-constructed device whereby the charge ofmaterial may be automatically tamped into the press in advance of theaction of the plunger therein.

With these and other objects in view, which will appear as the nature ofthe invention is better understood, the same consists in certain novelfeatures of construction, as hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, andin which corresponding parts are denoted by like designating characters,is illustrated the preferred form of the embodiment of the inventioncapable of carrying the same into practical operation, it beingunderstood that the invention is not necessarily limited thereto, asvarious changes in the shape, proportions, and general assemblage of theparts may be resorted to without departing from the principle of theinvention or sacrificing any of its advantages, and the right istherefore reserved of making all the changes and modifications whichfall within the scope of the invention and the claims made therefor.

In the drawings thus employed, Figure 1 is aside elevation, partially insection, of a haypress with the improvement applied. Fig. 2 is a planview of the same. Figs. 3 and 4 are enlarged details of the trippingmechanism.

Theimproved device may be applied to any of the various forms of hay andsimilar presses as ordinarily constructed by making slight andimmaterial modifications therein, and I do not, therefore, wish to belimited in the application of the device to any specific form orconstruction of the press. Apparaguide members when they are at theirhightus of this character comprise generally a press-box 10, in which aplunger 11 on one end of a plunger beam or bar 12 is reciprocated by theaction of an arm 13 on a shaft 14 upon the other end, the shaft beingmounted for rotation in a frame 15, connected to the press-box by asill-timber 16. The shaft 1 1 will be operated by any suitable power.(Not shown, as it forms no part of the present invention.)

Extending upwardly from the press-box are standards 16 17, supporting aframework 18, in which a cable pulley 19 is rotatively mounted, and alsoprovided with guide-keepers 20 21 for receiving spaced guide members 2223, the latter connected at their lower ends to a weighted tamping-head24:.

A cable 25 of suitable texture, preferably steel wire, is connected byone end 26 to the guide members 22 23 and leads over the cablepulley 19and thence down around a guidepulley 27 and thence to the operatingmechanism to be presently described.

Pivoted at 28 in the frame 18, in advance of the guide members 22 23, isa gravity-pawl 29 for engagement with notches 30 in the 7 5 est point toretain them in that position when desired.

Attachedby clips 31 t0 the sill-timber 16 is a frame 32, having spacedguides 33 3 1 at its opposite sides, between which guides a plate 35 islongitudinally movable.

The plate 35 is provided at one end with a guide-bracket 36 and at theother end with a guide-rib 37 and is also provided at the end oppositeto the bracket with a cable-pulley 38.

Slidably supported upon the bracket 36 and guide-rib 37 and alsooperating within the upper guide member 33 of the plate 32 is a bar 39,having one end turned upward and connected by a rod 11 to theplunger-beam 12 nearthe plunger 11, as by a clip 42.

The bar 39 is wider at one end than the other, the wider end operatingupon the guiderib 37 and by this construction a shoulder 13 is formedintermediately of the bar.

Pivoted at 14: upon the plate 35 is a pawl 45,

having lugs 46 47 projecting from opposite sides of its free end, thelugs fitting into the space between the upper edge of the lower guidemember 34 of the frame 35 and the lower face of the narrower portion ofthe bar 39, with the upper lug in position to be engaged by the shoulder43 thereon when the parts are in one position and the lug 47 forengaging the end of the guide member 34 when the parts are in anotherposition, as hereinafter explained.

Connected for rotation upon the sill-timber 16, as by a bracket 48, andspaced from the pulley 38 are two cable-pulleys 49 50, the cable 25passing around the pulley 50 from the guide-'gulley 27, thence aroundthe pulley 38 on the plate 35, thence around the pulley 49, and thenceto a lug 51 on the plate 35, to which it is attached, as shown. By thissimple means a comparatively short longitudinal movement of the plate35, with its attached pulley 38, will eifect a comparatively longmovement of the tamping-head 24, as hereinafter more fully described.

The lower surface of the tamping-head 24 will be provided with spacedspikes or spurs 52 to increase the grip. upon the charge or gavel of hayor other product in the pressbox.

It will be noted that when the plunger rod or beam 12 is in itswithdrawn position the shoulder 43 will be spaced from the lug 46 on thepawl 45, so that the plunger will move for some distance before the bar39 picks up the plate 35 by engaging the lug 47 to partiall y compressthe charge before the tampinghead is elevated out of the path of theplunger.

\Vith an apparatus thus constructed and assembled the operation is asfollows: The guide members 22 23, carrying the tamping-head 24, areelevated and engaged by the pawl 29 until the first follower-block ispositioned in the press-box and the first charge of hay or othermaterial placed in the receiver-hopper. The pawl 29 is then released andthe tamping-head permitted to fall upon the charge and pressing it intothe press-boxin advance of the plunger 11 and holding it therein untilthe plunger and its beam have moved forward far enough to cause theshoulder 43 on the bar 39 to engage the lug 46 of thepawl 45, and thuspick up the plate 35 and move it forward with the plungerbeam andquickly elevate the tamping-head out of the path of the advancingplunger. As soon as the forward movement of the plunger-beam has carriedthe pawl 45 to the forward end of the guide member 34 the shoulder 47will drop in advance of the end of the guide member, thus withdrawingthe lug 46 out of the path of the shoulder 43 and permitting the widerportion of the bar 39 to continue the forward movement, but releasingthe plate 35 and stopping its further movement and likewise stoppinganyfurther move- Waves ment of the pulleys and hoisting-cable, as will beobvious. The tapering head is thus maintained in its elevated positionwhile the wider portion of the bar 39 is traveling above the depressedpawl 45, which will. give ample time for the attendant to place anothercharge of the material or product in the receiver. hen the plunger andits beam are released at the end of the forward stroke, they are quicklyreturned to their former position or execute the return stroke, carryingthe bar 39 with them, as will be obvious. As the shoulder 43 passes fromthe lug 46 duringthe return stroke, the strain constantly exerted uponthe cable 25 by the Weighted tamping-head will cause the lug 47 of thepawl 45 to quickly mount the upper edge of the guide member 34 andrelease the plate 35 and its attached cablepulley 38 and permit thetamping-head to fall upon the loosely-placed charge and tamp it into thepress-box in advance of the plunger. To facilitate the releasing of thepawl45 when the shoulder 43 passes from the lug 46 during the returnstroke, the forward end of the guide member 34 and the inner face of thelug 47 will be reversely inclined, as shown. Then at the next action ofthe plunger the forward movement will be continued for a short time topartially compress the charge before the tamping-head is elevated andthen the latter quickly elevated out of the way and held suspended longenough to permit the next charge to be introduced. When a sufficientnumber of the strokes have been imparted to produce a bale of the propersize, the tamping-head is held suspended in its upper position until afollower-plate is introduced and a fresh charge inserted into thereceiver.

The improved apparatus may be readily adapted to various sizes and formsof presses without material change of structure and by means of whichthe changes will be automaticall y tam ped into the press-box in advanceof the action of the plunger.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. In a deviceof the class described, a pressbox, a plunger for reciprocation in saidpressbox, a tamping member for operation in said press-box, means forremoving said tamping member from the path of the plunger after theplunger has moved through a portion of its forward stroke, and agravity-pawl connected to support said tamping member in its withdrawnposition.

2. Ina device of the class described, a pressbox, a plunger forreciprocation in said pressbox, a supporting-frame extending from saidpress-box, a tamping member consisting of spaced bars movably connectedto said frame and carrying a tamping-head at their extremities andoperative in said press-box, and pro vided with transversestop-recesses, means for removing said tamping member from the path ofsaid plunger, and a pawl carried by said frame for engaging saidrecesses and supporting the tampingmember in its Withdrawn position.

3. Inadevice of the class described. apressbox, a plunger forreciprocation in said pressboX, a tamping member for operation in saidpress-box, a plate slidably disposed and carryinga cable-pulley, oneormore cable-pulleys supported in a stationary bracket, a cable connectedby its ends to said tamping member and to said plate and leading aroundsaid pulleys, and means connected to said plunger-actuating mechanismfor operating said plate, whereby said tamping memberis moved from thepath of the plunger at a greater speed than the speed of the plunger.

4. In a device of the class described, a pressboX, a plunger forreciprocation in the pressboX, means for actuating said plunger, asupporting frame for the plunger actuating mechanism, a tam ping memberfor operation in said press-box, a plate slidably connected to saidsupporting-frame and carrying a cable-pulley, a bracket connected tosaid supporting-frame and carrying one or more cable-pulleys, a cableconnected by its ends respectively to said tam pin g member and to saidslidable plate and intermediately carried around said cable-pulleys, andconnecting means between said plate and plunger-actuating mechanism.

5. Inadevice of the class described, a pressbox, a plunger forreciprocation in said pressboX and having a plunger-beam extendingtherefrom, mechanism for actuating said plunger-beam and plunger, aframe supporting said plunger-actuating mechanism, a sill-beamconnecting said press-box and supportingframe, a frame having spacedguide members and connected to said sill-beam, a plate slidable betweensaid guide members and carrying a cable-pulley and connected forreciprocation with said plunger, a bracket connected to said sill-beamand carrying one or more cable-pulleys, a tamping member for operationin said press-box, and a cable connected by its ends respectively tosaid tamping member and to said plate and intermediately carried aroundsaid cablepulleys.

6. In adevice of the class described, a pressbox having a longitudinalsupporting-frame, a plunger for reciprocation in said press-box,mechanism for actuating said plunger, a tamping member for operationtransversely of the path of said plunger, a carrier-frame having spacedguides and connected to said supporting-frame, a plate slidably disposed,between said guide members and carrying a cable-pulley, a bracketcarrying one'or more cable-pulleys and connected to saidsupporting-frame, a cable connected by its ends respectively to saidslidable plate and to said tamping member and intermediately carriedaround said cable-pulleys, a bar having an intermediate shoulder andmovably disposed upon said slidable plate and connected forreciprocation with said plunger, a pawl having oppositely-disposed lugsand pivoted upon said slidable plate with one of said lugs in the pathof the shoulder on said bar 1 and the other supported movably upon oneof said guides upon said carrier-frame and adapt ed to engage the end ofsaid guide members 'and release said shoulder at a predetermined pointin the stroke to permit the continued forward movement of the plungerwhile holding the tamping member stationary.

7 In a device of the class described, a pressbox having a longitudinalsupporting-frame, a plunger for reciprocation in said press-box,mechanism for actuating said plunger, a tamping member for operationtransversely ofthe path of said plunger, a carrier-frame having spacedguides and connected to said supporting-frame, a plate slidably disposedbetween said guide members and carrying acable-pulley, a bracketcarrying one or more cable-pulleys and connected to saidsupporting-frame, a cable connected by its ends respectively to saidslidable plate and to said tamping member and intermediately carriedaround said cable-pulleys, a bar having an intermediate shoulder andmovably disposed upon said slidable plate and connected forreciprocation with said plunger, a pawl having oppositelydisposed lugsand pivoted upon said slidable plate with one of said lugs in the pathof the shoulder on said bar and spaced therefrom when the plunger is inits withdrawn position and the other lug supported movably upon one ofthe guides on said carrier-plate and adapted to engage the end of saidguide and release said shoulder when said plunger has arrived atacertain predetermined point in its forward stroke, whereby the tampingmember is held in the path of the plunger during the first period of itsforward stroke, quickly removed from the path of the plunger at anintermediate point in the stroke and held stationary in its withdrawnposition during the last portion of the forward stroke and released whenthe plunger recedes a certain predetermined position during the returnstroke.

8. In adevice of the class described, a pressboX, a plunger forreciprocation in said pressbox, a tamping member for operationfh saidpress-box, means for removing said tamping member from the path of theplunger after the plunger has moved through a portion of its forwardstroke, means for maintaining said tamping member in its withdrawnposition during the remainder of said forward stroke and until a certainpredetermined point is reached in the return stroke, and means forreleasing said tamping member when said point is reached during saidreturn stroke.

9. In a device of the class described, a pressof the return stroke andthen releasing it to permit it to again fall into the path of theplunger.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as 5 my own I have heretoaffixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

EDWVARD JAMES RICHMOND.

Witnesses:

PAUL TUCKER, W. G. WVARNER.

